BDS September 2025 Minutes
BIG DEEP SOUTH CONVENTION 2026
Committee Planning Meeting
9/24/2025 Call to Order 6:32pm / End 7:29pm
Chair (Mary H.)
Hilton contract is signed & finalized. Intends to try to keep meetings to 1 hour. We do have some items in storage from last year. We still have some open positions. Vice-chair, Scott, will work closely with Security and Bobby A. regarding parking issues and assisting people with registering vehicles.
Vice Chair (Scott B.) - No report
Secretary (Emily A.) - Check your emails for updates!
Hotel Liaison (Bobby A.) - Excited for 2nd year in this position, got to know hotel staff last year. Here to help with any issues as planning continues.
Treasurer (Bill B./Billy K.) - no report
50/50 (Maria S./Mike H.) Mary H. & Jim R. - doing continued investigation on any legalities surrounding having 50/50 Accessibilities - OPEN POSITION
Al-Anon Liason - OPEN POSITION
Audio/Video (Chip) - No report
Bingo (Cindy/Charlotte) - No report
Coffee (Lauren M.) - needs a co-chair
Decorations (Karen/Skye) - No report
Entertainment - OPEN POSITION
Fundraising/Pre-Events (Neville B.) - We need a co-chair for this position!
Grapevine Rep (Bonnie/Brandy) - No report
Hospitality - OPEN POSITION
Housekeeping - Ralph M. is interested in filling this position
Marathon Meetings - OPEN POSITION
Meditation (Brittany C./Morgan C.) - Excited to be involved this year!
Merchandise (Mark F./Ryan L.) - No report
Outreach (Laura B./Rachel M./Tori S.) - Laura is enthusiastic! Everyone is asked to help with Outreach once we get flyers and other pre-reg info done.
Raffle/Auction (Angie B./Gina S.) - Brainstorming ideas
Registration (Leslie H./Laney) - No report
Scholarships (Nikki C./Josie D.) - Starting to discuss, planning to send info to local treatment centers in March Security (Brandon S./Eric B.) - No report
Speakers (Don/Tisere/Angel) - Speakers chosen!
2026: Fri. Night - Drew E. (Atlantic Heights, NJ), Sat. Day - Vann D. (Destrahan), Sat. Night - Jane L. (Tallahassee, FL), Sun. Morning - James L. (Tallahassee, FL)
2027: Tommy T. (Queens, NY), Bob D. (Las Vegas, NV)
T&C (Rachael F.) - No report
Tech Support/Website (Lisa/Carolyn) - working out kinks with zoom. Will use last year’s website but update with 2026 info. Welcoming (Jackie/Cherise) - no report
Workshop (Belinda/Kacy/Tamara) - Asked for clarification on number of workshops and times
OLD BUSINESS
● Proposed budget was submitted to service board. Chair will turn this over to the treasurer committee now. ● Hilton contract has been finalized
● Open positions:
o Accessibilities
o Al-Anon Liaison
NEW BUSINESS
● Theme to be voted on at October (10/22) meeting
o Entertainment o Hospitality
o Housekeeping o Marathon Meetings
● Secretary will: Create Save the Date, provide past theme list to committee
● Fall fundraiser (Neville) - Everyone welcome to present fundraising ideas and we need them. ● Discussion about GroupMe/email
○ Email will be official mode of communication
○ GroupMe will be created by the secretary to be used for more informal discussion and reminders. Invite link will be provided in email updates.
● Popcorn/Snowball Social Chair - new committee created!
○ We own a popcorn machine and a member is willing to loan a snoball machine
○ Ryan W. will be our chair!
● Motion (Nikki C.) - 2026 Convention theme to come only from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous ○ In favor - 8
○ Opposed - 3
■ Gives broader choice, we may like ideas brought from other approved literature, may give us ideas not used before
○ No one changed vote
○ MOTION PASSED - 2026 Convention theme will come from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous ● Next Meeting: October 22 6:30pm at Central Office